Adding to the six returning Northwest College wrestlers from last season the Trappers add 15 new faces this season while starting the year in Colorado on Sunday.

NEW RECRUITS

At the lightest weight (125 pounds) the Trappers feature Jackie Meador from Big Piney, who was third in 2A at 120 pounds last year at state, and Adrian Trujillo from Rawlins, who was runner up at 120 pounds in 3A.

“That’s going to be a nice competition between those guys,” coach Jim Zeigler said in early October. “I think they’re really going to push each other and whoever emerges there should be fairly competitive.”

At 133 pounds the Trappers add another wrestler from Rawlins, Zachary Covolo, who won the state championship in 3A at 132 pounds.

“Covolo is going to be a star here,” Zeigler said. “We’re not sure if he’s going to be 133 or 141. We've got to kind of work that out with him … I prefer that the kids grow into a weight class through the course of the season, as opposed to growing out of a weight class in the course of the season.”

At 141 and 149 pounds the Trappers added a pair of wrestlers from Kona, Hawaii, as Sunny Espinoza Jr. and Akea Cariaga made their way to Powell.

“Those guys are new. They’re from Hawaii, I’m not sure what their skill levels are just yet. I’m seeing glimpses of things. They’re both really good athletes and they’ve got a good attitude,” Zeigler said.

Another pair of Trapper athletes at 149 pounds are Kayleb Ferris from Green River, a redshirt transfer from Ellsworth Community College in Iowa Falls, Iowa, as well as Aman Goklenov from Turkmenistan.

“I’m not sure where he’s [Ferris’] at, but he has a chance to develop and compete for a spot,” Zeigler said.

At 165 pounds the Trappers will have the brother of former two-time national champion Aziz Fayzullaev, as Asad Fayzullaev will make his way to Northwest from Tashkent, Uzbekistan.

“In September he turned 18. He’s a lot younger than Aziz was, he’s still wrestling like he’s 18,” Zeigler said. “As he develops through the course of the year I think he could be really special. He’s definitely got a great wrestling skill set.”

Other competitors at 165 pounds for NWC will be Race Moxley, also from Kona, Hawaii, while Dustin Rhoades will compete at 165 or 174 pounds.

“Physically, he [Moxley] looks really good … Physically he’s quite a specimen. He’s a good athlete, but he’s green. He hasn’t had a ton of wrestling experience, but he does have a background in judo and jiu jitsu as well as wrestling so he has a unique skill set,” Zeigler said. “Dustin’s been on a mission, so he’s 20 going to be 21 and so he’s a mature kid. It makes for good competition.”

At 184 pounds the Trappers bring another older athlete with experience, as Easton Hopes will make his way to Powell from Sidney, Montana.

“Easton has also been on a mission, and he played football for a year at Dickinson as a redshirt and then went on a mission for two years,” Zeigler said. “So maturity, great strength and athleticism, good wrestling background. A state finalist in Montana, so I really think he’s going to lead the charge there.”

At 197 pounds the Trappers will be turning towards Austin Richens from Vernal, Utah.

“He’s an incredibly well put together athlete,” Zeigler said. “Great attitude, great strength, great quickness, skill set and a good wrestling background. Vernal, it’s been really good to us … That program has got good leadership and good skills.”

Emory Lavine from Custer, Washington, will also compete at 197 pounds for the Trappers.

At 285 pounds Northwest will slot in Jett Swain, another athlete from Vernal who will be transferring as a sophomore from Embry Riddle in Prescott, Arizona.

“He did a freshman year at Embry Riddle wrestling 197 last year, and wanted to transfer so we picked him up,” Zeigler said. “I think he’ll be real competitive in the heavyweight division. It’ll be a new look for him as opposed to wrestling 197, he’ll take some adjustment.”

Cash Lucas from Sand Springs, Oklahoma, will also compete at 285 pounds for the Trappers.

FIRST COMPETITION

Kicking off the season on the road this year the Trappers will head out on Sunday, Nov. 3 to compete at the Mines Rookie Open in Golden, Colorado.

“I’m happy with the way the guys have been working,” Zeigler said Tuesday. “You never really know what their talent level is until you get out there. I certainly am discovering that we’ve got some guys that have good work ethic, good character.”

Starting out the season on the road the Trappers will have the opportunity to bond and grow closer early in the year.

“It doesn’t matter to me if we’re at home or on the road that first match. I don’t think one’s necessarily better than the other,” Zeigler said. “I do feel like the first time you take a road trip, that you become more of a team … Once you pull away from Powell in the bus, it seems that your attention is focused more directly on where you’re headed.”

Competing early in the year will give a clearer picture of the team moving forward, but Zeigler wants his team to relax while building toward the end of the year.

“I’m interested to see them compete, see where they’re at,” Zeigler said. “I want them to relax. I want them to have some fun, relax and enjoy competing and then come back and start building towards something.”

The Trappers will compete at home next Friday, Nov. 8, taking on the University of Providence in a dual at 6 p.m. in their only scheduled competition at home before the new year.